Awards
Target Award
Award Description:Master of Science - MS
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit
Programme Offerings
Full-Time
F2F-JMU-SEP
Educational Aims of the Course
Natural products discovery is a highly multidisciplinary endeavour comprising the stepwise use of analytical, biological and chemical methods to extract and isolate natural products, elucidate their structure, assess their pharmacological and toxicological properties to select hits, modify their chemistry to obtain innovative preclinical drUG-candidates, excipients, nutraceutical and/or cosmeceutical ingredients and formulate them to improve their bioavailability. These steps are underpinned by the following transferable skills: the ability to find and critically assess professional and scientific literature, design, write and execute a research project, and effectively communicate about natural products facts, research and its findings to a variety of audiences using appropriate means of dissemination. Therefore, the overarching aim of the program is to equip students with an understanding of, and practical experience in, all the above methods and skills. As a Level 7 chemistry programme the aims are: - To extend students' comprehension of key phytochemical concepts and so provide them with an in-depth understanding of specialised areas of natural products chemistry - To provide students with the ability to plan and carry out experiments independently and assess the significance of outcomes - To develop in students the ability to adapt and apply the methodology to the solution of unfamiliar types of problems. - To instil a critical awareness of advances at the forefront of phytochemistry and natural products discovery. - To prepare and effectively support students for professional employment or research degrees in the areas of phytochemistry, natural products chemistry and allied analytical and biological sciences.
Learning Outcomes
1.
Independently acquire advanced chemical knowledge and apply specialised methods necessary for the extraction, purification and identification of natural products.
2.
Demonstrate competence in a range of computational skills pertinent to scientific research.
3.
Demonstrate knowledge of the traditional application of natural products to health and critically assess the evidence behind such practices as well as their limitations
4.
Independently acquire specialised, advanced knowledge and understanding of the application of biological approaches to investigate and predict pharmacological and toxicological properties of natural products.
5.
Understand and apply advanced synthetic knowledge to modify the physical-chemical properties of natural products.
6.
Understand and apply advanced pharmaceutical approaches to formulate natural products into valid final products for use by patients and public in general.
7.
Safely solve - alone or as part of a team - multidisciplinary challenges in the field of natural products even in the absence of complete information.
8.
Ethically source, systematically locate, critically evaluate, objectively assess and make appropriate use of information from scientific literature and relevant electronic resources.
9.
Communicate scientific information clearly, orally and in writing, at a level appropriate to different audiences.
10.
Demonstrate the necessary skills to plan, perform, report and interpret the results of laboratory experiments and analyses applied to natural products.
11.
Plan, conduct and report an independent a high-level research project, considering all relevant aspects, e.g. developing a testable hypothesis, time management, requirements for statistical analysis, health and safety, resource allocation, additional training needs, etc.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
A mix of both formative and summative assessments: The formative continuous assessment allows for incremental feedback to identify problems at all stages whilst not being as stressful as a summative continuous one. The aim is to facilitate a continuous dialogue between staff and students at both individual and group level on how to improve performance and achieve a high degree of critical thinking. It will consist of -but not restricted to- feedback of the laboratory and workshop activities. Some of these activities may be individual and anonymous (MCQs or notebooks) if so desired by the candidate/s whilst others cannot be run in this way. Group activities may consist of - but not restricted to - civic engagement activities and journal clubs and will typically require light supervision from staff as the objective is to test the creativity, resourcefulness and complementarity of the members as a single unit. Extracurricular activities will include guided visits to botanical gardens and museums exhibiting materials related to medicinal natural products. The summative assessments will test individuals and/or groups in a double-blind manner. Individual activities may consist in -but not restricted to- solving the structure of a natural products from spectra, proposing procedures to obtain such products or reviewing the evidence being their uses and alleged pharmacological activities. The latter may consist of -but not restricted to- engaging with the general public and peers by means of talks and posters, the creation of mock companies developing natural products into innovative products, creation of blogs about medicinal natural products. This will typically require light supervision from staff. Unseen exam papers will be implemented for all S1 and S2 non-shared taught modules.
Programme Structure
Programme Structure Description
The Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) in Natural Products Discovery programme is offered as an alternative exit award and is achieved via completion of six taught modules (7101PHASCI, 7124PHASCI, 7125PHASCI, 7126PHASCI, 7127PHASCI and 7128PHASCI). The Postgraduate Certificate in Natural Products Discovery programme is offered as an alternative exit award for those … For more content click the Read More button below.
Structure
Level 7
Entry Requirements
Alternative qualifications considered
Other international requirements
HECoS Code(s)
(CAH02-02) pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy